NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media during a news conference, in New York, Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Silver announced that he is banning Los Angeles Clipper owner Donald Sterling for life from the Clippers organization over racist comments in a recording.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers speaks during a news conference before Game 5 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in Los Angeles.

Jerry Carr, left, and Terry Williams protest Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, outside Staples Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in Los Angeles before Game 5 of an opening-round basketball playoff series between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors.

NEW YORK » NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered the swiftest, strongest penalty he could, then called on NBA owners to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments that hurt the league.

Almost unanimously, owners supported the commissioner Tuesday as he handed down one of the harshest penalties in the history of U.S. sports.

"We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA," Silver said at a news conference.

Sterling, 80, is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers, and was fined $2.5 million — the maximum allowable under the NBA constitution. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners agree to Silver's recommendation, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.

A message left seeking comment at Sterling's business office hadn't been returned Tuesday afternoon. Team spokesman Seth Burton said in an email that the Clippers had no plans to issue a statement from Sterling on Tuesday, but the franchise released a statement "wholeheartedly" supporting Silver's decision.

After the announcement, the Clippers' website featured only a simple message: "We are one." The mantra was repeated by the team's public-address announcers and chanted by their fans several times during their playoff game Tuesday night, a cathartic 113-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Players and civil rights leaders alike cheered Silver's quick action. Players' union officials said that if the league's punishment hadn't included a mandate for Sterling to sell the team, players were considering boycotting playoff games, including Tuesday's matchup with Golden State in the team's first home game since the scandal erupted.

"We wanted to be a part of this decision, and we wanted Adam Silver to know where we stood. And we were very clear that anything other than Sterling selling his team was not going to be enough for us," said Roger Mason Jr., the first vice president of the players' union.

The Clippers received raucous cheers when they took the court for warmups before Game 5. Two days earlier, they dumped their team warmup jerseys in a pile at center court in Oakland in a gesture of defiance against their owner before losing Game 4 of the series.

Chris Paul, the Clippers' All-Star point guard and the president of the players' union, issued a brief statement before leading Los Angeles against the Warriors.

"In response to today's ruling by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver, my teammates and I are in agreement with his decision," Paul said. "We appreciate the strong leadership from Commissioner Silver and he has our full support."

Paul then had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Clippers won Game 5 and moved within one victory of just the franchise's third playoff series victory since Sterling bought the team nearly 33 years ago.

Sterling's comments — which were recorded by his girlfriend and released by TMZ on Saturday — harmed the league, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA, and criticism was coming from fans on social media and even the White House.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling asks the woman on the recording.

"Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league," Silver said.

The NBA's longest-tenured owner keeps his team for now — and Silver said he didn't know if Sterling would fight to do so permanently.

But he can't attend games or practices, can't be involved in any personnel decisions or participate in board of governors meetings.

Just three days after the scandal broke, and hours before the Clippers hosted their biggest game of the season, Silver apologized to some of the league's black pioneers while meting out a punishment he believed would satisfy outraged players and fans.

Sterling's Clippers have been one of the most incompetent franchises in pro sports, and nearly all of their previous seasons would have been finished by now. But after the most successful two-year stretch in Clippers history, the current team is a title contender led by Doc Rivers, a black coach whom Sterling brought in from Boston and paid $7 million a year.

"(Silver) made the decision that really was the right one that had to be made," Rivers said before the Clippers' game. "I don't think this is something that we rejoice in or anything like that. I told the players about the decision, and I think they were just happy there was a resolution and that it's over, at least the start of it. I think we're all in a better place because of this."

Silver said the ban applied only to Sterling, and there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member. Sterling's estranged wife, Rochelle, has been closely involved with the franchise for years.

Many owners supported Silver, and none of them publicly defended Sterling.

"We applaud the firm punishment handed out today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and appreciate the swiftness with which the NBA conducted its investigation," Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said in a statement.

The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts, Silver said.

Sterling, with an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, did not comment, though Silver said he did not apologize for his remarks. Silver said Sterling confirmed that he was the person on the recording.

Silver hasn't even been on the job three months and already had to face a crisis that threatened the league not only financially — with several companies ending or suspending their sponsorships of the Clippers. Staples Center carried almost no advertising Tuesday night, with most sponsorship signage either removed or covered.

The scandal affected the NBA even more on a social level. The league survived the Indiana Pacers' brawl with Detroit Pistons fans, and referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated. But this brought a different level of outrage, particularly because the league could have done something sooner about Sterling, who has faced federal charges of civil rights violations and racial discrimination in his business dealings.

"This has all happened in three days, and so I am hopeful there will be no long-term damage to the league and to the Clippers organization," Silver said. "But as I said earlier, I'm outraged so I certainly understand other people's outrage."

Rivers canceled practice Monday and declined a meeting request from Sterling. He wouldn't address whether he would return next season if Sterling were still in control, a stance reaffirmed by the coach before Game 5 of the Clippers' playoff series with Golden State.

That might not be an issue if the owners vote to oust the owner.

Sterling is estranged from his wife and had been dating Stiviano, 31. In court documents, Stiviano describes him as a man "with a big toothy grin brandishing his sexual prowess in the faces of the Paparazzi and caring less what anyone else thought, the least of which, his own wife."

Silver said when he first heard the audio, he hoped it had been altered or was fake, but thought it was Sterling. And it doesn't matter if Sterling didn't realize he was being recorded, Silver said.

"Whether or not these remarks were initially shared in private, they're now public, and they represent his views."

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loquaciousonewrote:

Of course his 30 year old hottie girlfriend loves him for his personality and not the size of his wallet.

on April 29,2014 | 08:36AM

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inversewrote:

The girlfriend wanted revenge on Sterling because Sterling's ex wife was suing the girlfriend to return the million or so in gifts that Sterling gave her and Sterling did not back up the girlfriend. Big mistake for Sterling to not pay off the wife and girlfriend with even more money to keep than placated. Sounds like Sterling went cheap on paying off the ex-wife and now that all of the stuff hit the fan, he is kicking himself knowing all he needed to do was buy off the ex wife and girlfriend to keep their mouth shut and move on to another young squeeze.

on April 29,2014 | 08:45AM

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aomohoawrote:

Bottom line, he is scum with money.

on April 29,2014 | 09:46AM

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seriouswrote:

This comment has been deleted.

on April 29,2014 | 10:34AM

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sjeanwrote:

Serious? That is one of the lamest attempts at correlation & causation I've ever read.

on April 29,2014 | 11:12AM

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honopicwrote:

I second that. My response would have been stronger, but likely ended up "subject to approval" by the S*A censors.

on April 29,2014 | 11:28AM

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Skylerwrote:

Umm.. what?

on April 29,2014 | 11:30AM

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aomohoawrote:

What other kind of girl would someone like this attract? LOL

on April 29,2014 | 12:05PM

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loquaciousonewrote:

Girlfriend from hell huh?......I guess he would know.

on April 29,2014 | 12:15PM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

Trump's statement was a vicious, insensitive, and maligning disparagement of hell. All of hell should be outraged by being lumped in a basket with the Girlfriend. Trump's reservation for hell should be canceled. And he should be fined.

on April 29,2014 | 01:30PM

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cojefwrote:

It's all about money. This honey doesn't give a hoot about him, other than what she can bleed him for. On the other side of the coin his no bargain. He certainly has the look of a wanton hedonist and probably is a sexist also.

on April 29,2014 | 02:08PM

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Ronin006wrote:

Who is Trump?

on April 29,2014 | 03:57PM

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peanutgallerywrote:

I guess you know this because you know him personally? Amazing what progressive America does to white folks when they speak in their own home. Not condoning racism, but I have hundreds of black friends who talk smack about whites, all the time! Progressive liberals = no problem. What a crock!

on April 29,2014 | 01:25PM

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Ken_Conklinwrote:

Right here on the Star-Advertiser website, we often hear comments in public, right out in the open, from people who never hesitate to express their hatred for Caucasians. But those comments seem to be accepted as "normal" by this newspaper and by some readers. Let's hope that everyone who now calls out Donald Stirling for his racist comments made in private will step up to condemn the anti-ha*le racists when they spew their race-hatred publicly on these forums.

on April 29,2014 | 11:18AM

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DiverDavewrote:

Yes Dr. Conklin you and I both are attacked in this way all the time. I find it interesting that a private conversation, with an expectation of privacy, is made public and everyone on this page thinks Sterling should have his head cut off. But, we have a current legislator, Faye Hanohano, who yells racist names in public (Any work by Ha*les, Japs, Par*nges and P*kes, you can just take away right now,” in regards to award winning artist's art from around the state) at the capital building and not one Democrat calls for her to at least resign.

on April 30,2014 | 08:20AM

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thepartyfirstwrote:

Oh this is a set-up. The League knew of Sterlings past civil troubles and did nothing. Who out there is Sterlings biggest and loudest critic? That person is after the ownership of the Clippers. And they used so called racism and a women to bring him down just because in private he spoke his own opinion which we all have good or bad.

on April 29,2014 | 11:56AM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

If that was the strategy, it was flawlessly executed.

on April 29,2014 | 01:44PM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

girlfriendism

on April 29,2014 | 04:02PM

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Gebwrote:

Hottie? The last time I saw a mouth like that it had a hook in it. rd

on April 29,2014 | 05:25PM

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IAmSanewrote:

DSL

on April 29,2014 | 11:03PM

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2disgusted2wrote:

Love? You must not know the meaning of the word! It is like my ex's mistress calling me and saying she was his soul mate! And that of her hubby and now the Korean dude!

on April 29,2014 | 08:08PM

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HAJAA1wrote:

Um.....hottie? Lol. Dang. Kinda looks like a chimp with makeup.

on April 29,2014 | 11:24PM

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roadsterredwrote:

Banned for life for expressing racist remarks. However, our politicians can lie to the public with impunity e.g. if you like your health plan you can keep your health plan, if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor.

on April 29,2014 | 08:40AM

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slowroll323wrote:

Get over it. The ACA is here to stay!

on April 29,2014 | 08:51AM

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oxtail01wrote:

Give us a f...g break. You just showed your ignorance just like the racist guy.

Just cheap guy who has billions and thinks he can do as he please. Yes he did do that. Will it cost him? Yes, only money and he is too old to change. Will he care? Probably not. He is a stubborn old fool. You can take that to the bank.

on April 29,2014 | 12:25PM

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falsewrote:

I guess you're the only guy who never said derogatory things. Not in public anyway.

on April 29,2014 | 01:44PM

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IAmSanewrote:

This thread went from basketball to Obamacare to Iraq War to Syria. Gotta love the elderly folks and their dementia.

on April 29,2014 | 11:05PM

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Slowwrote:

Irrelevant.

on April 29,2014 | 10:13AM

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HanabataDayswrote:

You folks scooped the Washington Post getting this story online!

on April 29,2014 | 08:41AM

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Skylerwrote:

They just borrowed it from AP - probably have an agreement w/them. SA's becoming an aggregator like Drudge /joke.

on April 29,2014 | 11:31AM

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kukui_nutwrote:

Granted Sterling's comments were "deeply offensive," but punishment a bit severe for expressing racist views in a private conversation. Free speech rights come to mind. This whole episode would have worked itself out with loss of sponsors, players & revenues. The "Thought Police" rears it's ugly head.

on April 29,2014 | 08:51AM

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jussayinwrote:

I agree. Sterling's comments are extremely offensive. However, they were made in a private conversation. If there's a person who doesn't care for you, you may need to be careful if you're in an argument. The person may be setting you up to get revenge. Terrible remarks by Sterling but interesting case that nothing is considered private.

on April 29,2014 | 09:18AM

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honopicwrote:

I might agree if this had been the first time Sterling has made such remarks, or blatantly showed his racism in dealing with empolyees, including the players on his own team. It is typical of the attitude of the super rich that they think they can say or do anything, and buy their way out of trouble. Not this time. Whether his privacy was invaded or not, he should know in this electronic age that anything you say or do can be recorded. His words are bad enough, but what is worse is the evil in his heart.

on April 29,2014 | 11:36AM

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thepartyfirstwrote:

honopic- no, he never used racism when dealing the team. But the Left is using this for their agenda. A person of color is really after the ownership of the Clippers.

on April 29,2014 | 12:02PM

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falsewrote:

They'll be called the LA Aids.

on April 29,2014 | 03:58PM

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HD36wrote:

What do you think would have happened if he told his girlfriend not to bring any Filipinos to the games?

on April 29,2014 | 04:44PM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

The new Journey lead singer would have said, "eh, dat guy look like my guitar player."

on April 29,2014 | 05:55PM

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ISCREAMwrote:

Tried in the court of public opinion...

on April 29,2014 | 10:10AM

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seriouswrote:

This comment has been deleted.

on April 29,2014 | 11:07AM

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honopicwrote:

You never miss a chance to take cheapshots at the President or other black leaders, do you? I wonder why that is.

on April 29,2014 | 11:39AM

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HD36wrote:

I wonder what would have happened if he told his girlfriend not to bring any German people to the game? What if he just said don't bring any bloods or crips?

on April 29,2014 | 04:50PM

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Mei meiwrote:

just to show you never trust a gold digging horapotamaus.

on April 29,2014 | 11:20AM

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JnSwrote:

People forget that Free Speech allows anyone to say anything true...but that doesn't mean what you say won't have consequences. If I walk up to a someone and tell that perons he/she is ugly, according to the above definition of Free Speech Rights, that person should just accept it and not respond. If someone has to right to say anything, then everyone else also has the right to react the way they seem fit, as they are allowed free speech. People keep confusing free speech with consequence free action. He said what he said, if he truly means it, then he shouldn't apologize for the way he feels, but he and everyone else shouldn't be surprised with the fact that every action has a consequence.

on April 29,2014 | 12:16PM

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HAJAA1wrote:

Wow. This newspaper is an embarrassment lol. I mean, really?? Not one quote of the awful things this clown said. And we steal the darn story to begin with - do we have no local writers?? Man no wonder people come here and look down on us sometimes.

on April 29,2014 | 08:56AM

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falsewrote:

Remember that the conversation was secretly taped without the knowledge of Sterling. There isn't one of us that haven't expressed feelings about a personal matter, feelings which we wouldn't have expressed if we had known it was being taped. Sterling was stupid, the girlfriend was shrewd, and the league was just protecting it's own back. Me, ainokea.

on April 29,2014 | 09:14AM

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Skylerwrote:

The article was written by the AP - not the SA.

on April 29,2014 | 11:32AM

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loiowrote:

Jay-Z is a part owner of the Brooklyn Nets. He sat courtside a month ago with a big featured medallion hanging around his neck which stands for "white people are the devil". When asked if it had meaning for him, he said it did. Sterling's an idiot, don't care what happens to him, but what's good for the goose should be good for the gander. I'll bet if we got hold of private conversation audio from many of the black players in the league, many of whom are just highly paid thugs, the stuff they say about white people would be just as interesting.

on April 29,2014 | 08:58AM

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Mei meiwrote:

so true !

on April 29,2014 | 11:21AM

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honopicwrote:

"Many of whom are just highly paid thugs" you say? Would you care to provide proof of that, or are you just running your yap?

on April 29,2014 | 11:41AM

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2disgusted2wrote:

True

on April 29,2014 | 08:16PM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

Interesting. Black athletes (Kareem, Barkley, Jordan) and Spike Lee firmly take the wheel in the civil rights journey. Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, NAACP, even Obama all marginalized during this process. This spells significant change.

on April 29,2014 | 09:05AM

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waikane_honoluluwrote:

LA chapter of the NAACP was about to give the guy ANOTHER lifetime achievement award. Classic....

on April 29,2014 | 09:11AM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

Yup, they totally lost their leadership role in this. The new alpha organization is the NBA Player's Association. Very interesting. Quite possibly far more effective because of crossover (no pun intended) appeal.

on April 29,2014 | 09:37AM

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falsewrote:

"I disapprove with what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it." Evelyn Beatrice Hall. No matter how hateful and distasteful, we have a constitutional right to speak as we please in this country.

on April 29,2014 | 09:18AM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

And, apparently, the NBA commish has a "right" to ban an owner for life for exercising that right in an unwise manner, and NBA owners have a right to force such an owner to divest his holdings in a franchise. The constitutional right you speak of protects citizens from government limits on free speech. It probably doesn't apply in this situation.

on April 29,2014 | 09:35AM

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kukui_nutwrote:

No doubt that this one will be decided in court.

on April 29,2014 | 09:43AM

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Anonymouswrote:

You're right, it doesn't apply. The business of basketball did what they felt was best for their business.

on April 29,2014 | 11:26AM

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HD36wrote:

Larry Elders, a black LA radio talk show host said in a poll taken about what race was the most racsist:
White people said blacks were the most racsist.
Hispanic people said blacks were the most racsist.
Black people said blacks were the most racsist.
Go figure.

on April 29,2014 | 05:04PM

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honopicwrote:

That is true, but the NBA also has a constitution, which all owners, coaches and players must adhere to. Acceptable standards of behavior are clear, as are penalties for conduct detrimental to the league. Sterling knew the rules, but flaunted them anyway. "If you want to dance to the music, you have to pay the piper."

on April 29,2014 | 11:52AM

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salsacoquibxwrote:

Do you guys think this guy really cares..he 's a rich racist..2.5 mil is nothing to him. He'll get 700 mil when he sells the team..which is what their worth. Im sure he is going to make it hard for that team to sell.

on April 29,2014 | 09:22AM

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loquaciousonewrote:

Isn't the woman the one who's supposed to get pregnant? He looks like he's at least 8 months along.

on April 29,2014 | 09:33AM

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CriticalReaderwrote:

THAT IS SO SEXIST. . .I think . . . . isn't it?

on April 29,2014 | 03:57PM

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dontbelieveinmythswrote:

Really? We all make racist remarks, intentionally or not. However, a true racist is in the actions. Seems to me Sterling is guilty of being an insensitive a......le. However, if he were a true racist against blacks, would he be paying them millions of dollars? A black coach too? So please, especially all you black celebs who want to compare this to the "plantation, slave" days, just stop.

on April 29,2014 | 09:51AM

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littleyoboboywrote:

just because he employs them doesn't mean he's not racist. he's a like a pimp. he don't give damn about the person's welfare as long he's making money. let's face it, there wouldn't be an NBA or NFL without the black players. they're badass athletes, period.

on April 29,2014 | 11:25AM

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littleyoboboywrote:

just because he employs them doesn't mean he's not racist. he's just like a pimp. he doesn't give a damn about the player's welfare as long as he's making money. a player is just a commodity. let's face it, ther wouldn't be an NBA or a NFL without the black athletes.

on April 29,2014 | 11:29AM

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lowtone123wrote:

Sterling won't sell unless forced to. He'll be glad to collect a healthy paycheck, though. I'm sure he'll pout at not being able to go to games with his eye candy hanging off each arm. Play with fire and eventually you'll get burned.

on April 29,2014 | 09:53AM

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DAGR81wrote:

We are all racists, but vary in our degree of tolerance.

on April 29,2014 | 10:48AM

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loquaciousonewrote:

From now on, we'll refer to Sterling as Clorox.

on April 29,2014 | 11:09AM

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DAGR81wrote:

You are in denial.

on April 29,2014 | 03:02PM

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littleyoboboywrote:

????

on April 29,2014 | 11:30AM

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littleyoboboywrote:

???????????????

on April 29,2014 | 11:33AM

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loquaciousonewrote:

I would guess that Donald is about 8 months and due soon.

on April 29,2014 | 12:14PM

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falsewrote:

In theory, assume I make some racist remarks in a private context that were taped. If my employer found out, they would have grounds to fire me?

on April 29,2014 | 12:14PM

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steelinhomewrote:

Content of character, not skin color

on April 29,2014 | 12:23PM

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Rickyboywrote:

Show me the money! Why now? No matter how offensive Free Speech, entitled to one's opinion. Other owners knew all along about it but looked the other way what a bunch of ...p.

on April 29,2014 | 01:46PM

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salsacoquibxwrote:

THATS RIGHT THEY ALL KNEW BEFORE HE BOUGHT THE TEAM ON HOW HE WAS..NOWWW IT WAS NO SURPRISE.

on April 29,2014 | 02:14PM

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ninilchikmanwrote:

What is scary is now not what he said, but what you say in the privacy of your home can be made public. The whole reason of the freedom of the press was to ensure all the amendments of the constitution was followed by the govt. Now the press and the president are commenting on secretly placed recordings in the private homes between two people. The press is now the enemy of free speech not the protector. Big questions on drones in our backyards? Doesn't compare to this. Better watch out for hidden mics in your homes. This is way more dangerous.

on April 29,2014 | 03:12PM

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Anonymouswrote:

These were not "secret" recordings-- they were in the hands of the media no doubt via one of the participants-- the girlfriend (who may have liability if she recorded without consent of Sterling). But it is her right to release these and press's right to publish-- all part of freedom of expression. If any agency of government were to censor the remarks on either side or by the press-- that would be a violation of freedom of expression.

on April 29,2014 | 03:58PM

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Ronin006wrote:

Sterling was convicted and sentence without trial with evidence that would never have been admitted in a court of law.

on April 29,2014 | 03:57PM

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Ronin006wrote:

Sterling is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers. That is not much of a sentence for a guy who is 80.

on April 29,2014 | 04:01PM

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Maneki_Nekowrote:

He will probably take comfort in his $2 billion fortune. Somehow, he will get through this.

on April 29,2014 | 06:25PM

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Alex57wrote:

Another constitutional right lost. This guy is very small minded but until now, he did have the right to express himself as he saw fit in private.

on April 29,2014 | 05:37PM

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2disgusted2wrote:

So SA you finally put the story on after some prodding! Well what's new! Though this didn't happen in Hawaii, it does happen in Hawaii all the time! How many old white fools in Hawaii bite the dust thanks to young Asian hotties? Oh and can you now re consider your Hottie of the Week feature. Let's now consider teaching young women not to bust up marriages and go after big, fat ugly white men with fat wallets!

on April 29,2014 | 08:06PM

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jussayinwrote:

Ban for life. Just a casual note that the guy is 80 years old. And yup, he's going to make quite a bit of money if he needs to sell the Clippers. There are several buyers already.

on April 29,2014 | 08:31PM

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WalkoffBalkwrote:

Yes, and it counts.

on April 29,2014 | 11:14PM

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thoswrote:

Let's see if I got this right. An 80 year old billionaire, long estranged from his wife and dating a young hottie, makes a private remark to said hottie which she does not bother to tell him she is recording. She then releases the recording on TMZ, it goes viral, and all the preening, grandstanding members of the celebrity studded info-tainment sports media go predictably bonkers.

However buried deep, in penultimate paragraph of the story "Clippers owner Sterling banned for life from NBA” is a tantalizing bit of dynamite: "it doesn't matter if Sterling didn't realize he was being recorded, [NBA Commissioner Adam] Silver said."

It sure as [scatological term redacted] DOES matter.

Such a recording would be a clear violation of federal law as would its public dissemination. These private remarks - - however distasteful - - broke no law, nor encouraged anyone else to break the law. Recording these private remarks and its public release of DID break the law.